Hiking San Diego: Guajome Regional Park

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We love hiking San Diego, and we recently checked out Guajome Regional Park in the North County San Diego/Oceanside area. This park has lots to offer for all ages, and we both agreed it’s one of our best hikes in San Diego so far.

What you need to know

Guajome Regional Park offers 4.5 miles of hiking trails, plus 33 camping sites for those interested in camping San Diego. The park has something to offer people of all ages and abilities, including a small playground for children, basketball court, fishing ponds, and even wedding/special event facilities. The trails are easy to navigate and great for walking/hiking and biking.

If you love San Diego camping and want to add Guajome Regional Park to your summer vacation list, there are cabins, partial hook-ups, and a caravan pavilion – we loved how shady and peaceful the campground was, and we definitely plan to camp there in the future.

Hiking Checklist – Gear to Bring:

The ponds at Guajome Regional Park add a beautiful ambiance to hiking there, but they also attract mosquitoes. We saw signs indicating that the area is treated for mosquitoes, but we’d also recommend bringing mosquito repellent, especially if you plan to camp.

The trails also have Poison Oak. The trails are well maintained and the Poison Oak is off trail, but if you’re hiking with children and pets, it can be easy for the Poison Oak to blend in with all the lush foliage. These Poison Oak cleansing towelettescan come in handy in case someone does accidentally brush up against Poison Oak.

Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and hawks. We chatted with a fellow hiker who mentioned that a hawk on this trail tried to swoop down and scoop up his chihuahua – and since we just recently saw this happen to a rabbit in our backyard, we’re definitely keeping a close eye on our pets when they’re out in nature.

location and directions

Guajome Regional Park is located in the coastal community of Oceanside, about 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

hours and fees

Day Use Hours: 9:30 a.m. to sunset
Parking is $3 cash (Note: cards and pennies are not accepted at the machine)

the hiking trails

Guajome Regional Park offers 4.5 miles of trails that meander through diverse Southern California habitats including woodlands, chaparral, wetlands and mixed grasslands. The trails are an easy hike/walk for all ages and dogs, too (we’ve walked the trails with our chihuahuas and our nephews ages 5 and 7, plus a baby stroller with a 10-month old and everyone had a great time). We love how lush and green these trails are – so beautiful!

We’ll definitely be hiking Guajome Regional Park again soon, and hopefully camping San Diego this summer! What are your favorite places to hike/camp in San Diego? Tell us in the comments below! 🙂